QUAKE DAMAGE. The Hinatuan Doppler Radar Station in Surigao del Sur is cordoned off after being declared by the DPWH as "structurally unsafe" on Tuesday (Dec. 5, 2023). The DPWH on Wednesday (Dec. 6) said the initial cost of damage from the series of recent strong tremors that rocked parts of Mindanao has reached PHP566 million. (Photo courtesy of Hinatuan LGU)
MANILA – The partial cost of damage to public infrastructure caused by the recent strong earthquakes in Mindanao has topped PHP500 million, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Wednesday.
Citing a report from the department's Bureau of Maintenance, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the PHP566.37 million initial cost of damage is still undergoing validation.
The costs cover PHP106.58 million in damage to roads and bridges, PHP432.88 million to school buildings, and PHP26.91 million to national government buildings.
He added that a post-earthquake assessment of other public infrastructure was ongoing on school buildings and other government-owned buildings.
Meanwhile, Bonoan said five road sections in the Davao and Caraga regions remained closed to heavy vehicles as of Wednesday noon.
The following road sections are limited only to light vehicles due to safety reasons and ongoing structural damage assessment:
Davao region:
• Bolton Bridge 1 along ABS-CBN-Quimpo Blvd. Road in Davao City
Caraga:
• Surigao-Davao Coastal Road;
• Benoni Bridge in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur due to a two-inch displacement of span no. 4 girder near pier 3;
• Tago-Gamut Bridge along Surigao-Davao Coastal Road in Tago, Surigao del Sur due to rebar exposure at abutment;
• K1358+0855 to K1358+0880 due to longitudinal crack on the pavement;
• K1208+0050 (left side), Carrascal, Surigao del Sur due to 10-cubic meter rock soil collapse;
• K1270+0370 to K1270+0430 (left side), Nurcia, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur due to abnormal gap on expansion joint;
• Payasan-Los Arcos Road, K1391+0080 to K1391+0107, Barangay San Pedro, Lianga, Surigao del Sur due to scoured road shoulder and scoured reinforced concrete pipe culvert;
• Tandag Bridge, K1297+0261, Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, B00695MN due to abnormal gap on expansion joint; and
• Magsaysay Bridge, B01723MN, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte due to minor bridge damaged cracking, delamination, and pull-off of restraining cap.
On Saturday night, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Surigao del Sur with its epicenter recorded east of Hinatuan town.
Early Monday, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck north-northeast of Cagwait, Surigao del Sur.
Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna has ordered the City Engineer's Office to conduct a thorough check on the Manila City Hall to ensure its structural integrity.
This was after Tuesday afternoon's magnitude 5.9 earthquake in Lubang, Occidental Mindoro, which was also felt in Metro Manila.
Lacuna also directed barangay officials to check if the integrity of any building or edifice in their respective areas had been affected by the earthquake. (PNA)
